A fibromyalgia diagnosis raises as many questions as it answers, leaving sufferers feeling frustrated and alone. But support is as close as the nearest fibro blog. Here, top bloggers with the condition share their best tips for feeling healthy and hopeful. Plus, test your fibromyalgia IQ with our quiz...

When Felicia, 28, was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2001, there was little information available to patients.

She found medical articles in magazines, but not first-hand advice from others going through the same experiences. So she started the FeliciaFibro blog to support and educate fibromyalgia sufferers.

Besides blogging about relatable topics like pain, fibro fog and fatigue, she provides a resource list of household products for fibro sufferers, from braces and orthotic slippers to bottle openers and veggie peelers.

Felicia (who doesn’t reveal her last name or image to protect her privacy) is part of a growing community of fibromyalgia bloggers, for whom sharing experiences is a valuable treatment tool. Many expand their reach through Facebook and Twitter as well, to give readers more opportunities to learn and commiserate.

And the numbers of blogs and readers are growing. Chronicles of Fibromylagia, started by Leah Tyler in August 2010, logged more than 24,100 hits in its first four months.

Experts say:Yoga is a good choice, says Ishibashi, because it can be modified to suit each fibro patient’s needs.

Many sufferers develop muscle tension as a defense against physical pain, says Ishibashi. “The tension can become habitual and lead to uncomfortable, unnatural positions. Yoga restores mobility and flexibility.”

“Often, yoga is taught as a way to make friends with your body, learning what it can do, and gently encouraging it to do a bit more."

Tip #3: Don’t be discouraged by people who can’t understand your condition. Bloggers say: “If someone regularly hurts your feelings, stresses you out, belittles you or gets angry about how you’ve had to change your life, they’re only going to make you worse,” says Adrienne Dellwo, who runs About.com’s Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome channel, including its blog, forum and weekly newsletter, which has thousands of subscribers.

“Of course, we’re stuck with some people, but you can limit your contact,” she adds.

Experts say: Depression is prevalent among patients with fibromyalgia, says Patrick Wood, M.D., a fibromyalgia specialist who practices in Mississippi.

It can arise as a co-existing condition or as a result of struggles with symptoms.

Avoiding exposure to negative people and situations can help ward off feelings of sadness or anger.

“I tell anyone who will listen that life is a beautiful, painful and exquisite condition that only leads where you take it,” Tyler says.

Experts say: If you’re recently diagnosed, it may take time to feel like your pre-fibro self, Ishibashi says.

Studies have shown that people “revert to their normal feeling of happiness or unhappiness within a year of even a very major event,” she says.

Tip #5: Keep a food journal to avoid flare-ups.Bloggers say:Food sensitivities, such as excessive swelling or irritable bowel syndrome, are common with fibromyalgia.

But keeping track of what triggers your ailments can help you avoid them.

“Write down your reactions to foods when you eat them. Do you feel tired or sluggish? Did you become bloated or swell up? Were you feeling more pain than usual?” says Linstruth-Beckom.

By tracking foods she ate, Linstruth-Beckom discovered that carbonated beverages and prepared foods with MSG and other additives made her hands and ankles swell. White pastas and bread left her tired and sore the next day.

Tip #6: Consider alternative, integrative and holistic specialists as part of your medical care.Bloggers say: Herbal medicine, supplements, vitamins and regular trips to the chiropractor and acupuncturist can be important tools to battling fibromyalgia, according to the bloggers we interviewed.

When treating fibromyalgia patients, she uses chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture and herbal supplements to address the digestive, immune-system and emotional issues common with the condition.

“Any relief in these areas will improve the body overall,” she says.

How Much Do You Know About Fibromyalgia?Described by Hippocrates in ancient Greece, fibromyalgia is one of the world’s oldest medical mysteries. The disease – a complex illness marked by chronic muscle, tendon and ligament pain, fatigue and multiple tender points on the body – affects about 2% percent of Americans, most of them women. How much do you know about fibromyalgia?

The information contained on www.lifescript.com(the "Site") is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for advice from your doctor or health-care professional. This information should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. Always seek the advice of a qualified health-care professional regarding any medical condition. Information and statements provided by the site about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Lifescript does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, third-party products, procedures, opinions, or other information mentioned on the Site. Reliance on any information provided by Lifescript is solely at your own risk.